Ideas from everyday lessons
Explore teaching approaches, original materials and activities developed through daily work with children, with practical ways to teach the relationship between sounds and letters.
JOLLY STUDY SQUARE
Atsuko Maruyama & Jolly Study Square
Since 2015, Jolly Study Square has provided training and materials for teachers and parents in Japan. Our work focuses on Jolly Phonics and sharing practical classroom experience.
MEET YOUR TRAINER
Classroom experience.
Shared with you.
Atsuko Maruyama (Maru)
Jolly Phonics & Jolly Literacy Official Trainer
Head of I’s English School and Jolly Study Square
A practising teacher, Atsuko develops teaching approaches and materials in response to children’s learning. She trains teachers in Japanese and English at international schools and other settings, and gives talks for libraries and educational organisations. She shares that classroom experience with teachers and parents.
Read Atsuko’s profileFROM CLASSROOM TO TRAINING
Three strengths to bring into your teaching.
Support for Japanese-speaking learners
Consider differences between Japanese and English sounds and writing. Explore how to check understanding and adapt explanations and practice when a learner needs support.
Teacher training in Japanese and English
Atsuko trains teachers at international schools and other educational settings. Sessions in Japanese and English respond to the needs of staff with different language backgrounds.
ATSUKO MARUYAMA · PROFILE
Opening up possibilities through learning.
In the classroom since 2007.
After ten years in the United States, Atsuko Maruyama (Maru) founded I’s English School in Tokyo in 2007. She teaches learners from age two to adulthood, using Jolly Phonics, Jolly Literacy and Jolly English in her own classrooms. Her teaching connects English with expressing ideas and taking action, with activities suited to each learner’s age and experience.
Official training grounded in daily teaching.
As a Jolly Phonics & Jolly Literacy Official Trainer, Atsuko delivers teacher training in English and Japanese. More than ten years of teaching inform her demonstrations of letter–sound relationships, blending, spelling and writing. Sessions connect the approach with Japanese-speaking learners’ needs, original activities and practical checks for understanding.
Connecting materials and teaching since 2015.
Atsuko established Jolly Study Square in 2015 as an official distributor of Jolly Phonics materials. Her roles in distribution and teaching connect resource selection with classroom use. Discuss levels, purposes, budgets and combinations of materials with someone who also understands how to teach with them.
A responsive approach to literacy difficulties.
Atsuko teaches children with dyslexia and other developmental or learning needs, within and beyond her own school. She considers where each learner needs support and adapts explanations, practice and materials. Her work includes talks for schools and educational organisations, NPO EDGE and libraries, sharing practical approaches to English literacy support.
Bringing Japanese classroom experience to international conversations.
Over many years, Atsuko has built relationships with Sue Lloyd, Sara Wernham, founder Chris Jolly and Jolly Learning. At trainers’ conferences and other exchanges, she has shared perspectives on English education in Japan, progress and challenges in her own school, and experience from training international-school teachers. This is a two-way exchange: learning from international practice and contributing Japanese classroom experience.
OFFICIAL TRAINER + OFFICIAL DISTRIBUTOR
Resources and teaching.
Connected by experience.
Atsuko Maruyama is a Jolly Phonics & Jolly Literacy Official Trainer and runs JSS as an official distributor. Her experience connects resource information with what happens in a classroom or at home.
- 01International exchange
Publisher, authors and fellow educators
- 02Local classroom experience
Daily teaching and staff training
- 03Choose, teach and review
Connected resource and teaching advice
FOR SCHOOLS
Connect resources with staff training.
Plan materials and training around progression, staff experience and lesson time. Give your team a shared approach that can be passed on to new colleagues.
FOR LANGUAGE SCHOOLS
Turn the right resources into teachable lessons.
Discuss starting points and resource combinations for mixed ages and levels, including how Jolly Classroom and printed materials can work together.
FOR PARENTS
Choose with a clearer understanding of how to help.
Start with what your child can already do. Discuss suitable materials, ways to use them at home and how to connect practice with classroom learning.
FOR LEARNERS
A next step that fits the learning.
When teaching and resource decisions share the same understanding of a learner, it is easier to select practice for a difficulty and plan when to move on.
For example, when considering a new resource, discuss its edition, level and terms alongside your learners’ needs and how it could fit your lessons. Training and ongoing support are scoped and quoted separately. Materials-only purchases are welcome.
Discuss materials and implementationA TWO-WAY EXCHANGE
Learning internationally. Contributing from Japan.
Long-standing relationships with the authors and publisher create opportunities to explore the thinking behind the resources and share questions from Japanese classrooms. At trainers’ conferences and other exchanges, Atsuko has contributed experience from her own teaching and international-school training.
Enlarge ↗In conversation with Sue Lloyd
With Jolly Phonics co-developer Sue Lloyd at a distributors’ conference. Exchanges with the authors help connect the thinking behind the materials with everyday teaching and resource advice.
Enlarge ↗Discussing literacy with the author
Discussing grammar teaching with Jolly Literacy author Sara Wernham. Atsuko brings both a distributor’s knowledge and a practising teacher’s questions to the conversation.
Enlarge ↗A connection with Jolly Learning’s founder
With Chris Jolly, founder of Jolly Learning. Long-standing exchanges inform Atsuko’s perspective on using the resources in Japanese schools, language centres and homes.
Another photograph from the publisher exchange
Enlarge ↗Continuing the conversation
Another moment from a distributors’ conference. JSS combines publisher exchange with classroom practice to offer a connected point of contact for choosing and using materials.
Experience shared from Japan
- Sound and literacy challenges for Japanese-speaking learners
- Learning progress and responses to difficulties in her own school
- Knowledge and experience from training international-school teachers
Turning resource knowledge into useful advice
As a distributor, exchanging information with the publisher and distributors overseas creates opportunities to learn about new editions and resource use. JSS considers that information alongside teaching experience to help schools, language centres and families make practical choices.
About the authors and founder: Jolly Learning ↗
TEACHER TRAINING · IN PRACTICE
Making sounds and letters visible.
A selected example of training led by Atsuko Maruyama. Board work and practical demonstrations explore the relationship between English sounds and letters, making it easier to see how explanations can support children’s understanding.
LEARNING WITH EDUCATORS WORLDWIDE
Learning from international practice. Bringing ideas into the classroom.
Atsuko Maruyama attends Jolly Phonics trainers’ conferences in the UK to learn from fellow educators and explore ways to use teaching materials. She connects these perspectives with her everyday classroom experience and shares practical ideas through training in Japanese and English.
Enlarge ↗Joining the international conversation
Introducing herself at a trainers’ conference, as a trainer working in English education in Japan and learning alongside educators from other countries.
Enlarge ↗Trying activities together
Taking part in activity-based group work with fellow trainers. Learning through participation complements the practical demonstrations in her Japanese- and English-language training.
Enlarge ↗An interview invitation
A moment at a trainers’ conference when Atsuko was invited for an interview, part of her engagement with the international training community.
More photographs from the training community
Enlarge ↗Connections across countries
With a trainer from Bulgaria. Meeting colleagues who teach in different languages and settings offers perspectives to consider when working with learners in Japan.
Enlarge ↗Sharing culture, building connections
At a conference gala in Japanese traditional dress. Cultural exchange provides another opportunity to build connections with educators beyond the training sessions.
Enlarge ↗Part of an international training community
Conference participants, photographed by a JSS staff member. Learning alongside educators from different countries informs the perspectives Atsuko brings back to teaching and training in Japan.
See resource exploration and the conference setting
Jolly Learning describes its annual Trainers’ Conference in London and its international network of trainers. Jolly Learning’s official introduction (opens in a new tab) ↗
CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL LEARNING
Continuing to learn about literacy difficulties.
Alongside everyday English teaching, Atsuko learns through international conferences and conversations with authors, seeking perspectives on supporting learners who experience literacy difficulties.
Enlarge ↗Continuing to learn about literacy difficulties
At the International Dyslexia Association conference in 2019. Atsuko seeks perspectives beyond Japan as part of her work supporting children who find English reading and writing difficult.
Enlarge ↗Exploring literacy through dialogue
A conversation with an author about reading and writing difficulties at IDA. Seeking approaches that fit individual learners is part of Atsuko’s continuing teaching practice.
TALKS & WORKSHOPS
From classrooms to libraries and communities.
A selection of talks and workshops led by Atsuko Maruyama.
All events below have ended. Dates and registration details on the original Japanese flyers are historical.
PAST EVENT
Developmental dyslexia seminar · Organised by Nagoya City Moriyama Library
Breaking down barriers to English
Atsuko presented teaching approaches and classroom examples for supporting children who find reading and writing in English difficult. The seminar took place in Moriyama Library’s second-floor meeting room.
View the original Japanese flyer (past event)
PAST EVENT
Organised by Tottori Prefectural Library Association · Literacy support through English learning
28th Tottori Prefectural Library Conference · Session 3
Atsuko led a session on exploring different ways to enjoy reading and supporting people with dyslexia, drawing on English-learning experiences. The focus was understanding individual literacy needs and opening up ways to enjoy books.
View the original Japanese flyer (past event)
PAST EVENT
English workshop · Organised by Tottori Prefectural Library with Nanbu Town Library
Find the key! An English treasure box
At Kinaru Nanbu, Atsuko led a hands-on workshop using library books to explore and enjoy English. The event welcomed participants from the later primary years through adulthood.
Organiser’s record / announcement (Japanese) (opens in a new tab)View the original Japanese flyer (past event)
OUR MISSION
Support the people who teach.
Provide the training and materials teachers and parents need to teach synthetic phonics effectively through Jolly Phonics.
OUR VISION
A community that learns together.
Build a community of learners and teachers grounded in respect for the individual and responsibility to the community, improving English education in Japan and around the world.
Quality driven
Strive for excellent programmes.
Evidence based
Value effective teaching.
Ethical
Seek to do the right thing.
Transformational
Expand children’s opportunities.
Full details & reference information
Retained reference text from the existing site. Dates, prices and historical statements do not establish current availability or terms. Source page ↗
Our Story
About Us
Jolly Study Square is an independent education consultancy focused on promoting the Jolly Phonics program and the systematic phonics method it underscores.
Since forming Jolly Study Square in 2015 we have trained teachers and parents throughout Japan, and have become one of the leading Japanese distributor of Jolly Phonics materials.
Our team of experienced teachers and Professional Jolly Phonics Trainers offer workshops and in-school training for teachers and parents to share our passion for this highly effective synthetic phonic system. We all continue to use Jolly Phonics & Jolly Literacy on a daily basis in our English schools because we know the opportunities it can create for our students.
Our Mission & Vision
Our Mission
The mission of Jolly Study Square is to provide the necessary training and materials to teachers and parents so they can effectively teach synthetic phonics using the Jolly Phonics program.
Our Vision
We seek to build a community of learners and teachers based around the principles of respect for the individual and responsibility to the community, with the ultimate vision of improving English education in Japan and around the world.
Our Values
Quality Driven: we aim to provide best in class programs for teachers and students
Evidence Based: we ensure our programs work
Ethical: we always seek to do the right thing
Transformational: we aim to transform children’s lives through enhanced opportunities
Meet Our Team
Atsuko Maruyama
CEO, Accredited Trainer
Atsuko also teaches English to children with dyslexia and other developmental and learning difficulties, and has found that the synthetic phonic approach that Jolly Phonics is based on is exactly the type of support her students need. Additionally, she co-founded Jolly Study Square, an official distributor of Jolly Learning materials, in 2015 and has experience trying all the materials in the Jolly Phonics and Jolly Literacy lines.
Through her many years of teaching experience, she can show you how to bring Jolly Phonics to life with children of all ages and abilities.
Our Affiliates
I's English School
https://somnium.co.jp/
Email: ask-is@somnium.co.jp
Tsukishima Branch：
〒104-0052
Tokyo, Chuo-ku, Tsukishima 3-14-9-301
Kamata Branch：
〒144-0055
Tokyo, Ota-ku, Nakarokugo 1-9-15-305
www.jollylearning.co.uk
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR CLASSROOM
What would make a difference
in your classroom?
Tell us about your teaching needs. We’ll help you explore the right training.